Lakers’ Size Advantages Minimized By Big D

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) – The Los Angeles Lakers will have to pick on somebody their own size to make it to another Western Conference finals.

For all of Kobe Bryant’s brilliance, the Lakers’ back-to-back title runs were built on the defensive dominance and offensive mismatches created by their two 7-footers, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Few teams can match Los Angeles’ sheer size, and even fewer can overcome it in the paint.